On May 22, Kristina Smathers will graduate from Terra Nova High School. Already the 18-year-old’s résumé is wow.

The youngest of three, Kristina’s family moved to Pacifica when she was three months old — possibly one of the few times she didn’t need to keep a calendar and wear a watch with an alarm.

Smathers attended Cabrillo Elementary. In 5th grade she became involved in student government and was class rep for 5th, 6th and 7th grade. In 8th grade she ran for school president. She read up on elections and learned not to promise anything that can’t be given. Voters that year were kindergartners through third graders.

“My opponent promised everything,” Smathers laughed. Kristina lost the presidency but remained immersed with the council. She also played for the high school AAU basketball team, grade six and up, and was CYO player of the league MVP.

“Freshman year at Terra Nova, I came in ‘guns a-blazing,'” Smathers said.

She ran for president and lost. She was not, however, discouraged. She took on the job of class treasurer. Sophomore year she ran for class president and won. In her junior year, Smathers served as District student rep and PTO student rep. All along her school career was punctuated by sports including: varsity basketball and varsity track and field, freshman year; varsity track and field MVP, sophomore year; and crew, water polo and track and field, junior year. Senior year she limited sports to water polo. Too many other things to do including being: a peer helper, a team leader for TUPE (tobacco-use prevention education), JUHSD School Board student trustee, District student rep, PTO student rep, and student rep on the JUHSD Strategic Planning Committee. She also committed to her 4th consecutive year as student coordinator/organizer for Terra Nova’s Special Olympic events, and was president of the Friends Club, which provides opportunities for special needs kids including a special prom, with all the trimmings. In addition, Kristina created in the kitchen.

“I have a passion for cooking and since I work in the office as an aide, my focus this year is making things for staff, based on what they like,” Smathers said. Some of those treats included an espresso cheesecake brownie and an ice cream cupcake.

The senior — who just got a job working at Cold Stone Creamery and has a second job as a medical respite worker — volunteers as a Pacifica Police Explorer. The Police Explorer program provides law enforcement career experience for youths 14 to 21. Smathers signed on in 2013 and plans to stay three more years.

“We wear a full uniform,” Smathers said. “Our patch identifies us as an Explorer.”

“We work traffic control at the Fog Fest, we worked Earth Day,” Smathers continued. “We go on ride-alongs once a month. I do graveyards with an officer. You go on calls. You use the radio. We do search and rescue training and are first aid and CPR certified. We also attend Police Explorer challenges, which test our skills with real-life police situations.” They additionally take on the Police Academy Obstacle Course.

Last year, Smathers logged in 397 hours with the Explorers. In the department’s separate “minor decoy” program, she logged in 200 plus hours.

“The Explorers is an amazing program and through it I have met my mentors,” Smathers said. “They are family.”

Smathers did a “hero’s” report on one of those mentors.

“She told me the most important thing is: ‘you come first,'” Smathers said. “Take care of ‘you’ and you can take care of others.”

The teen’s work with the Police Explorers has earned her the following awards: “Academy Top Student,” “Most Inspirational,” “Top Physical Fitness” and “Highest Graduating Grade.”

On May 17, there is a spaghetti feed fundraiser for Pacifica Police Explorer Post #126, to help send the kids to this summer’s challenge in Indiana. It will be held at the Pacifica Moose Lodge from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children under 12.

In the fall, Smathers heads off to Skyline College to take care of her core requirements.

“I am not ready to declare a major,” Smathers said, “too many interests. And I have noticed doing one thing, opens the door to many things.”

“I used to think that hard work and dedication will get me everything in life,” Smathers continued. “And while those traits are important, it’s really all about the people you meet.”

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